1. EMOTIONAL DAY: There’s no question the Bengals are underdogs entering today’s game. All things being equal, the Chargers should win, especially since they’re playing at home. But in the wake of Chris Henry’s tragic death this week, it’s impossible to know the Bengals’ emotional state. It figures to be difficult right before kickoff when a moment of silence is observed, and the question at that point becomes how the Bengals respond. Are they overcome with sadness, or are they inspired? The first quarter should give everyone a good indication of what’s to come. The Bengals have been much better this season in the first half (163-107) than after halftime (outscored 110-98).

2. CB ON THE GROUND: In this case, C.B. can stand for either the Cincinnati Bengals or Cedric Benson; they’re basically the same (although ex-Chief Larry Johnson could get some carries and same for Bernard Scott if he’s healthy). Benson has been one of the most pleasant surprises in the league this season, a former top draft choice finally enjoying his first 1,000-yard season while playing just 101/2 games. We say this nearly every week, but sooner or later a team is going to try to run on the Chargers for four quarters, and what happens then? The Chargers need to get Benson & Co. off the field in order to get their high-powered offense on it.

3. HELP FOR CHAD: Cincinnati’s offense hasn’t been the same since Henry was injured at midseason, scoring just five TDs in the past 23 quarters. Teams have been able to double-cover Chad Ochocinco and force Carson Palmer to look elsewhere for big plays — and there is no elsewhere. Andre Caldwell and Laveranues Coles average barely 10 yards per catch between them. We know about the Chargers’ troubles with some tight ends, but because of injuries Cincinnati is down to J.P. Foschi, who has only 20 catches (although that’s 20 more than Cleveland’s Evan Moore had before he torched the Chargers). Palmer didn’t even reach 100 yards passing last week at Minnesota, where Cincinnati was held to fewer than 20 points for the seventh time in its past nine games. Palmer threw for 440 yards when these teams last played in 2006, but his high this season is 271 as the Bengals have relied more and more on Benson.

4. STRENGTH FOR STRENGTH: The Chargers have the No. 4 scoring offense in the league; the Bengals have the No. 2 scoring defense. Cincinnati is particularly good against the run, allowing just 3.8 yards per carry and 86 yards per game. But that shouldn’t bother the Chargers too much, because they can’t run anyway, averaging fewer than 2.7 yards per carry in their past three games and a league-worst 3.2 for the season. The Chargers will look to strike as they usually do, through the air on deep passes and screens. San Diego has scored at least 20 points in 19 straight games, and while the Bengals have allowed fewer than 17 a game, note that of the four top-10 scoring teams they faced, three scored 24 or more — Green Bay (24), Houston (28) and Minnesota (30).